"Got Peace?" as it relates to "Got Time?"

“But there is no peace for the wicked,” says the LORD. [Isaiah 48.22]

Here is a statement that is often heard as a figure of speech, "there is no rest for the wicked..."

I checked several translations (around 5 others) and found that they all said "peace" instead of "rest." It really doesn't matter though because peace and rest are fairly synonymous.

That said... got peace?

If we do not have peace, the glaringly obvious reason is because of wickedness - in a word, sin.

Now I know there are all kinds of religious explanations for why people don't have peace that are not so indicting as mine here, but, I think mine is right because it actually is based on scripture. Not that it matters, but I can also testify of personal experience that the lack of peace is always associated with sin. Again, not that my experience matters, but it sure seems to match what the Bible teaches.

So, for this reason, I must conclude that the only solution for the lack of peace in one's life is repentance. It may not be repentance for murder or adultery, but it will certainly be repentance for pride (not trusting God) at very least (which is actually the very most!).

Think about it. Not trusting God is the highest form of pride there is. It says to God, "You are not sufficient to care for me." And, consequently, having directly or indirectly said that to God, we are left to care for ourselves - and what a pitiful, fearful, and worrisome task that is! The tell-tale sign of not trusting God is the absence of peace.

Got peace?

If not, repent. Then, following repentance, believe.

How does one know if he or she has repented and believed enough? There will be peace.

The sad truth about today's society is that the remedy for the lack of peace (repentance and faith) requires time and solitude with God. We want a quick fix, but like a fine wine, peace with God cannot be rushed or remedied on demand - it takes time.

Got time?

Most of us will answer, "no." The cold hard truth then is that if we don't have time to get peace with God - time to repent and believe - then we should just give up on having peace. But this is not an option for any true believer. The fact is, every true believer (I don't mean "churchgoer) will have peace. If not, ...well...

Father, forgive me for my faithless unrepentant life. Forgive me for being content with 'no peace' when Your Word is absolutely clear that the condition of 'no peace' is directly connected to the condition of sin and wickedness. Help me to stop all my busy-ness and start waiting patiently on You.